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CFL: Rookie’s fire sparks a difficult choice for Buono

Stefan Logan tries to stay in bounds along the sidelines while Winnipeg Blue Bombers Willie Amos gives chase during CFL action at BC Place last month.

Photograph by: Richard Lam/Vancouver Sun
, Vancouver Sun

B.C. Lions’ head coach Wally Buono said prior to last Friday’s contest against the Edmonton Eskimos he was hoping rookie running back Stefan Logan might make one of his bye-week decisions a difficult one.

Mission accomplished.

The pint-sized former University of South Dakota star didn’t go off the charts in any particular statistical category — 83 yards rushing, 24 yards pass receiving and 54 on kick returns. However, his combined contribution of 161 yards amounted to the critical spark the coaching staff was looking for.

“What Stefan has done has given me reason for thought,” admitted Lions’ head coach over the weekend. “Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to do.”

The players don’t go back to work until the coming weekend and by then Buono figures he’ll have a plan worked out. For his feature back he has a choice between two guys who couldn’t be more opposite in so many ways.

In Joe Smith he’s got a 6-2, 225 pound line crasher and the CFL’s defending rushing champion who approaches the game with a studied detachment — punching the clock for work and leaving the game behind him once he books off duty.

In Logan, he’s got a 5-6, 181-pound ball of fire who lives and breathes the game, leaving the impression he’d rather cut off his right arm than miss anything his teammates are doing even when he’s not dressed.

While in no way criticizing Smith’s approach, Logan concedes the contrasts.

“Joe’s a different type of guy and I’m cool with that,” said the Miami resident before leaving for his bye-week trip home. “But I’m a football fan. I love everything about the game.”

While Buono insists the club can accommodate both Smith and Logan under the league’s salary cap — although not dressed at the same time — the possibility of a trade remains. One bye-week decision Lions’ coach won’t be wrestling with is who’s going to line up behind the centre when the team returns to action Sept 22 against Calgary. It will be Jarious Jackson making his seventh straight start despite being pulled in favour of Buck Pierce in the third quarter of the Edmonton victory.

Immediately after last Friday’s contest Buono made a point of assuring Jackson he’ll be back on the firing line next time out. Buono likes Jackson’s record as a starter — 9-2 last year and 4-2 so far in 2008 — but was disturbed at the lack of discipline shown by the former Notre Dame pivot in tossing a fourth-quarter interception on first down near the Edmonton goal line.

“I’ve told our quarterbacks that, from now on, I’m going to be less tolerant about those type of situations,” he said. “What I’m saying is, ‘Do what the game plan calls for. Learn how to manage the game.’ ”

GRID BITS: The Lions might be interested in Mike Bell, a running back on their negotiation list who was recently cut by the Houston Texans . . . Linebacker Jason Pottinger (knee) and offensive lineman Dean Valli (back spasms) had to leave the Edmonton game and will be re-evaluated after the break. Geroy Simon (hamstring) will be back in the lineup against Calgary and also expected to play is guard Sherko Haji-Rasouli (hamstring) . . . Buono had praise for the work of Lorne Plante who filled in a right guard for Valli . . . Defensive tackle Tyrone Williams led all tacklers against Edmonton with seven as well as picking up a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass knockdown.